SPOnG does not advocate use of the PSP in the bath.
Following a whopping great hint, Sony has announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that Skype will, indeed, be coming to the PSP. The bad news is that owners of the original PSP won't be able to make use of it thanks to memory constraints.
Owners of the slim and light PSP worldwide will be able to use the voice over internet protocol (VoiP) service to make calls with other Skype users, as well as landline and mobile phone users with the purchase of Skype credit.
For owners of the original PSP, however - no such luck. Nick Sharples, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's director of Corporate Communications explains:
The original PSP features 32MB of memory, compared to 64MB for the slim and light.
Skype will be available in a software update scheduled for late January. Once installed, it will be accessible from the XMB.
Sony has already announced Go!Messenger, which will also offer VoIP functionality, for PAL territories. Sony blog Three Speech tells us that the slim and light will get "full Skype voice functionality" (our emboldening) which is presumably what will differentiate the service from Go!Messenger, which will feature video calls and instant messenger services. SPOnG has contacted Sony for clarification.
Elsewhere in PSP land, Sony has announced a whopping 16GB Memory Stick PRO Duo so you can carry around... well, about as much media for your PSP as you like, really. It's expected to hit the US some time in March, with Europe slated to get it at roughly the same time.
GPS for the PSP has also been given a date of Spring this year for the US. Remember, we're all looking forward to the Leipzig-announced Go!Explore European satnav, promised early this year.
Meanwhile, a keyboard for the PSP is said to be in the works to avoid messy text input through the PSP's screen. A Sony rep has said, "We're looking at several designs, but can't tell you anything more specific."†
†Source: GameSpot
Owners of the slim and light PSP worldwide will be able to use the voice over internet protocol (VoiP) service to make calls with other Skype users, as well as landline and mobile phone users with the purchase of Skype credit.
For owners of the original PSP, however - no such luck. Nick Sharples, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's director of Corporate Communications explains:
“Although PSP-1000 (the original) and PSP-2000 (slim and light) are identical in basic functions, there are differences in hardware specifications to some extent and, for that reason, PSP-2000 may differ in features from PSP-1000. We had studied the possibility of supporting Skype with PSP-1000 but had to give it up because of the smaller size of main memory on PSP-1000 series.”
The original PSP features 32MB of memory, compared to 64MB for the slim and light.
Skype will be available in a software update scheduled for late January. Once installed, it will be accessible from the XMB.
Sony has already announced Go!Messenger, which will also offer VoIP functionality, for PAL territories. Sony blog Three Speech tells us that the slim and light will get "full Skype voice functionality" (our emboldening) which is presumably what will differentiate the service from Go!Messenger, which will feature video calls and instant messenger services. SPOnG has contacted Sony for clarification.
Elsewhere in PSP land, Sony has announced a whopping 16GB Memory Stick PRO Duo so you can carry around... well, about as much media for your PSP as you like, really. It's expected to hit the US some time in March, with Europe slated to get it at roughly the same time.
GPS for the PSP has also been given a date of Spring this year for the US. Remember, we're all looking forward to the Leipzig-announced Go!Explore European satnav, promised early this year.
Meanwhile, a keyboard for the PSP is said to be in the works to avoid messy text input through the PSP's screen. A Sony rep has said, "We're looking at several designs, but can't tell you anything more specific."†
†Source: GameSpot
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
Joji 8 Jan 2008 19:19
1/4
Hey Sony, thanks for screwing us once again. I'm happy with my original PSP, and you want me to buy a new one for Skype. You can count me out.
Just as I was geting excited about PSP Skype and its game over already. I'll add this one to your growing jenga tower of disappointments.
Just as I was geting excited about PSP Skype and its game over already. I'll add this one to your growing jenga tower of disappointments.
tyrion 8 Jan 2008 19:30
2/4
Joji wrote:
Hey Sony, thanks for screwing us once again. I'm happy with my original PSP, and you want me to buy a new one for Skype. You can count me out.
Yeah! And while you're at it, thanks for not porting Drake's Fortune to the PSOne, you lazy buggers!
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headcasephil 8 Jan 2008 23:58
3/4
this comes down to sony wanting you to spend more money the i have the the new s&l psp but since i got it on day one it is now just siting there and the only thing i use it for is burnout for the people who want to use skype on the go have a look at network 3 as some of the phones they have can use skype or even better go and get one of the new asus eee sub laptops as they are cool and do so much more
ajgptjm 12 Jan 2008 07:15
4/4
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